Lincoln, NE - The Sioux City Explorers were unable to complete the sweep of the Lincoln Saltdogs this afternoon as Lincoln was able to come away with the 3-2 victory.

Sioux City got things started rather quickly in this ball game as they loaded the bases with no one outs the first three men reached base, two of them on bunt singles. Nate Samson would bring home Luis Durango as he grounded into a double play and the Explorers took a 1-0 lead.

From there though Eric Wooten the starter for Lincoln would begin dealing against the Explorers. As he did not allow a hit to Sioux City for the next five innings until the beginning of the seventh. And at one point had a streak of setting down 10 straight. Wooten finished this game going 6.1 innings, allowing just 2 runs, on 5 hits, striking out 8 and walking 5.

The X’s were able to tack on a run in the seventh as Daniel Jackson reached on a fielders choice and following a walk by David Kerian Luis Durango scored Jackson with a base hit up the middle. Michael Lang would follow up by being hit by a pitch and would load the bases with only one out but JR Bunda came into the game for Lincoln and got Jay Austin to ground into an inning ending double play keeping the score just 2-0 for the X’s.

Lincoln would get on the board in their half of the seventh when Randolph Oduber doubled and Brandon Jacobs chased him home with a single making it 2-1.

That was the only run that Explorers starter Luis Mateo would allow though as he was excellent in this for Sioux City. He went 7.1 innings, allowing just the single run on 8 hits, striking out 8 and walking only 2 in the ball game. Unfortunately for Mateo he would take the tough luck no decision.

Lincoln in the eighth started it off with a strikeout which was the last batter that Mateo would face. Patrick Schuster was called into the game to face Dan Johnson but would walk him which brought in Ryan Flores. He walked the pinch hitter Ivan Marin and then got Cesar Valera to fly out to right field for the second out of the inning. Ryan Horstman would come in to face the left hander TJ Bennett but Bennett would hit a double over Durango’s head in left field scoring both Johnson and Marin and giving Lincoln a 3-2 lead.

Jose Jose was then called upon by the Saltdogs for the save and he would set down the X’s in order in the ninth picking up his seventh save of the season.

Sioux City is now 43-16 on the season as they return home to Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park for the start of a 7 game home stand facing both the Cleburne Railroaders and the Lincoln Saltdogs.